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inventory control。 They have been losing too many books。〃
She glanced at him。 Surely he was joking。
An awkward silence came over them。 〃I received a letter from Stan White；〃 he said finally。 〃They have an offer of sixty thousand dollars for the house。〃
Stan White was her father's lawyer。 〃That's good；〃 she said。 〃From what they told me； I didn't think we'd get that much。 Big houses are a glut on the market。〃
〃Some Jews want it；〃 he said without rancor。 〃That's why they'll pay that much。〃
〃It was much too big for us and we wouldn't live there when you e home； anyway。〃
He looked at her。 〃There won't be very much left。 Perhaps ten thousand after we take care of the creditors and Stan。〃
〃We won't need very much；〃 she said。 〃We'll manage until you're active again。〃
This time his voice was bitter。 〃Who would take a chance on me？ I'm not a banker any more； I'm a convict。〃
〃Don't talk like that！〃 she said sharply。 〃Everyone knows that what happened wasn't your fault。 They know you took nothing for yourself。〃
〃That makes it even worse；〃 he said wryly。 〃It's one thing to be condemned for a thief； quite another for being a fool。〃
〃I shouldn't have gone to Europe。 I should have stayed at home with you。 Then perhaps none of this would have happened。〃
〃It was I who failed in my obligation to you。〃
〃You never did that； Father。〃
〃I've had a lot of time to think up here。 I lay awake nights wondering what you're going to do now。〃
〃I'll manage； Father；〃 she said。 〃I'll get a job。〃
〃Doing what？〃
〃I don't know；〃 she replied quickly。 〃I'll find something。〃
〃It's not as easy as that。 You're not trained for anything。〃 He looked down at his hands。 〃I've even spoiled your chances for a good marriage。〃
She laughed。 〃I wasn't thinking of getting married。 All the young men in Boston are just that … young men。 They seem like boys to me； I haven't the patience for them。 When I get married； it will be to a mature man； like you。〃
〃What you need is a vacation；〃 he said。 〃You look tired and drawn。〃
〃We'll both take a vacation when you e home；〃 she said。 〃We'll go to Europe。 I know a place on the Riviera where we could live a whole year on less than two thousand dollars。〃
〃That's still a long way off；〃 he said。 〃You need a vacation now。〃
〃What are you getting at； Father？〃 she asked。
〃I wrote to my cousin Foster；〃 he said。 〃He and his wife； Betty； want you to e out and stay with them。 They say it's beautiful out there and you could stay with them until I could e out to join you。〃
〃But then I wouldn't be able to visit you；〃 she said quickly； reaching for his hands in the narrow space beneath the bars。
He pressed her fingers。 〃It will be better that way。 Both of us will have less painful things to remember。〃
〃But； Father… 〃 she began to protest。
The guard started over and her father got to his feet。 〃I've already given Stan White instructions；〃 he said。 〃Now； you do as I say and go out there。〃
He turned away and she watched him walk off through eyes that were beginning to mist over with tears。 She didn't see him again until many months later； when she was on her way to Europe again on her honeymoon。 She brought her husband out to the prison。
〃Father；〃 she said； almost shyly； 〃this is Jonas Cord。〃
What Harrison Marlowe saw was a man his own age； perhaps even older； but with a height and youthful vitality that seemed characteristic of the Westerner。
〃Is there anything we can get you； Father？〃 she asked。
〃Anything we can do at all； Mr。 Marlowe？〃 Jonas Cord added。
〃No。 No； thank you。〃
Cord looked at him and Harrison Marlowe caught a glimpse of deep…set； penetrating blue eyes。 〃My business is expanding； Mr。 Marlowe；〃 he said。 〃Before you make any plans after leaving here； I'd appreciate your speaking with me。 I need a man with just your experience to help me in refinancing my expansion。〃
〃You're very kind； Mr。 Cord。〃
Jonas Cord turned to Rina。 〃If you'll excuse me；〃 he said； 〃I know you want some time alone with your father。 I'll be waiting outside。〃
Rina nodded and the two men said good…by。 For a short time； father and daughter looked at each other； then Rina spoke。 〃What do you think of him； Father？〃
〃Why； he's as old as I am！〃
Rina smiled。 〃I told you I'd marry a mature man； Father。 I never could stand boys。〃
〃But… but… 〃 her father stammered。 〃You're a young woman。 You have your whole life ahead of you。 Why did you marry him？〃
Rina smiled gently。 〃He's an extremely wealthy man； Father；〃 she said softly。 〃And very lonely。〃
〃You mean you married him for that？〃 Then suddenly he understood the reason for her husband's offer。 〃Or so he could take care of me？〃 he asked。
〃No； Father；〃 she said quickly。 〃That isn't why I married him at all。〃
〃Then why？〃 he asked。 〃Why？〃
〃To take care of me； Father；〃 she said simply。
〃But； Rina… 〃 he began to protest。
She cut him off quickly。 〃After all； Father；〃 she said； 〃you yourself said there wasn't anything I could do to take care of myself。 Wasn't that why you sent me out there？〃
He didn't answer。 There wasn't anything left for him to say。 After a few more awkward moments； they parted。 He stretched out on the narrow cot in his cell and stared up at the ceiling。 He felt a cold chill creeping through him。 He shivered slightly and pulled the thin blanket across his legs。 How had he failed her？ Where had he gone wrong？
He turned his face into the hard straw pillow and the hot tears began to course down his cheeks。 He began to shiver as the chill grew deeper within him。 Later that night； they came and took him to the prison hospital； with a fever of a hundred and two。 He died of bronchial pneumonia three days later； while Rina and Jonas Cord were still on the high seas。
14
THE PAIN BEGAN TO ECHO IN HER TEMPLES； CUTTING LIKE A SHARP KNIFE INTO THE DREAM。 She felt it begin to slip away from her； and then the terrible loneliness of awakening。 She stirred restlessly。 Everyone was fading away； everyone except her。 She held her breath for a moment； fighting the return to reality。 But it was no use。 The last warm traces of the dream were gone。 She was awake。
She opened her eyes and stared unrecognizingly for a moment around the hospital room； then she remembered where she was。 There were new flowers on the dresser opposite the foot of the bed。 They must have brought them in while she slept。
She moved her head slowly。 Ilene was dozing in the big easy chair near the window。 It was night outside。 She must have dozed the afternoon away。
〃I have a terrible headache；〃 she whispered softly。 〃May I have some aspirin； please？〃
Ilene's head snapped forward。 She looked at Rina questioningly。
Rina smiled。 〃I've slept away the whole afternoon。〃
〃The whole afternoon？〃 It was the first time in almost a week that Rina had been conscious。 〃The whole afternoon；〃 Ilene repeated。 〃Yes。〃
〃I was so tired；〃 Rina said。 〃And I always get a headache when I nap during the day。 I'd like some aspirin。〃
〃I'll call the nurse。〃
〃Never mind； I'll call her；〃 Rina said quickly。 She started to raise her hand to the call button over her head。 But she couldn't lift her arm。
She looked down at it。